Literary excellence and the imagination of young writers were celebrated with the winners of the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition rewarded at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum on Wednesday.

The annual writing competition drew interest from more than 500 young writers all over Samoa as the competition was held in English and Samoan.

Vaiala Beach School won the majority of the primary school awards while Saint Mary's College dominated the college level. 

Australian High Commissioner to Samoa William Robinson stressed the importance of writing and story-telling in Samoa. 

"Stories can help determine how your nation sees itself. It can inspire, challenge, and shape the way people think or see the world," he said in his keynote address.

"I understand the theme for this competition is "Lo'u Lumanai - My Future". It couldn't be more relevant. Today we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of an extraordinary age—an era shaped by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. 

"Machines are creating art, composing music, and generating stories. So why bother? Why continue to write stories, when machines are so capable? One answer, I believe, is that storytelling is a bridge between the past and the future.

"Between what has been and what could be. Samoa has a rich tradition of storytelling, and you follow in the footsteps of those who have come before you. 

"And this is why Australia is working closely with Samoa’s Ministry of Education to help support the next generation of writers and storytellers—just like you. So be bold. Be brave in telling your truth, and never underestimate the impact your words can have. Remember your stories must have heart. That heart comes from you—your voice, your creativity, and your perspective."

One of the judges Professor Sina Va'ai was proud of the efforts of the students. She highlighted that all stories that were submitted were interesting. 

She said there were some errors in some stories in terms of grammar and spelling but she reminded the students that it was a journey. She said they will learn as they go.

There were more than 500 submissions unfortunately the top three stories are awarded. The aim of the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition is to encourage students to write and read. 

Mr Robinson in his address acknowledged the people behind the competition that has been running for 14 years.

"I end my remarks by acknowledging Savea Sano Malifa, one of Samoa’s renowned writers, whose vision has paved the way for this competition and for supporting the future of Samoan storytelling," Mr Robinson said.

Savea's vision for the competition was to allow students a platform to express their literary skills and ensure that literacy rates in schools were maintained, if not improved.

Marge Moore, a former Samoa Observer senior editorial staff was also one of the pioneers behind the competition.